Pre-Conference Fly-Ins

(Optional Offerings)

Accounting Technology Administrator Fly-In

The Association for Accounting Administration offers a Special Interest Group (SIG) and is again offering a program designed specifically for this group of professionals and those with interest. The SIG is for Accounting Technology Administrators otherwise known as CPA Firm Network Administrators and Firm Administrators responsible for managing technology within their accounting firm. This SIG will help ATAs effectively manage technology in the firm and provide networking opportunities.

AAA has enhanced the program in 2008 by making it a two-day program to be held on Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17 in conjunction with the AAA 2008 National Practice Management Conference. This interactive program for the profession will be led by Roman H. Kepczyk of InfoTech Partners North America and Trey James of the Xcentric, the ATA Fly-In’s Program Sponsor. Eric McMillen, CISSP, CISM, CISA of The McMillen Group will be facilitating a session on Security Concerns, Solutions and Opportunities on the first day.

This year’s session has been expanded to a full two-day program permitting more time to address both technical networking sessions and firm technology administration. The Fly-In has been designed for participants to attend one or both days to maximize their experience.

Day One

Will focus on open discussions of today’s leading technical topics of network administration, security, information management, and communications issues for those individuals with their hands on the firm’s network. The day has been specifically designed to minimize presentations and optimize the time spent sharing best practices, knowledge, and resources amongst technology administrators, and to encourage networking and solutions amongst peer firms.

8:00 am - 9:45 am	Network Administration and Infrastructure Decisions
10:00 am - 12:00 pm	Security Concerns, Solutions, and Opportunities
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Networking Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm	Information Management and Storage Solutions
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Remote Access and Connectivity Tools

Day Two

Will focus on optimizing the use of today’s CPA firm tools and technology for those responsible with overseeing technology decisions and implementations within their firms. The program will begin by addressing leading technology utilization within your tax, audit, client service, and administrative departments and then transition into an open discussion opportunity broken out by firm size. The afternoon will start by addressing firm policies, procedures and managing IT from the firm’s perspective and close with a look into the future of CPA firm technology.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm	Digital Best Production Practices and Workflow from the CPA Firm Perspective
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Networking Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm	Breakouts by Firm Size
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm	IT Management (Governance, Policies, Training)
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm	Crystal Ball and Planning

Participants will receive a listing of all participants to use for further networking, an executive summary of the sessions and a complete listing of tools and web resources for ATAs. Registrants will be encouraged to send questions before the session to ensure all subjects of importance are covered. Discounted registration fees are available for SIG members and Conference registrants. All ATA Fly-In registrants not registered for the Conference are invited to participate in the Conference’s Welcome Reception held with our vendors on Tuesday evening.

Human Resources Fly-In

The Association for Accounting Administration is again offering a one-day program designed exclusively for the accounting firm human resources professional. The one-day program will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 in conjunction with the AAA 2008 National Practice Management Conference and will afford both the opportunity for CPE as well as re-certification credits for HRCI.

Your team structure is the key to your firm’s success. In this full-day program, we’ll take 2007’s HR Fly-In recruiting and retention topics to a deeper level and share best practices in attracting the right people (and weeding out the wrong ones!) to maximize the performance of your firm’s existing team members.

Topics to be discussed include:

Recruiting positioning methods to attract the right people to your firm
Screening techniques to identify under-doers, high-maintenance, and other unqualified candidates
Orientation methods to familiarize new employees and bring them up-to-speed quickly, including:
- New employee orientation processes
- Buddy programs
- Mentoring programs
- Training approaches
Performance management must-haves to set expectations, spur motivation, and manage disappointments in employee performance

This action-packed day will combine lecture, group discussion and brainstorming, and exercises to ensure eye-opening insights that you can apply to enhance your firm’s recruiting and retention programs immediately. Attendance at the 2007 HR Fly-in is not required.

If you're interested in an effective method for growing your team and developing your human resource management skills (or those of others in your firm), this Fly-In is a must! This interactive program for the profession will be led by Jennifer Wilson of ConvergenceCoaching LLC.

Participants will receive a listing of all participants to use for further networking, an executive summary of the session and a complete listing of tools and resources for accounting firm human resources professionals. Registrants will be encouraged to send questions before the session to ensure all subjects of importance are covered. Discounted registration fees are available for Conference registrants and all HR Fly-In registrants not registered for the Conference are invited to participate in the Conference’s Welcome Reception held with our vendors on Tuesday evening.